Compstat was created
by Director Jose M. Cordero to provide the East Orange Police Department with an synopsis of
preliminary crime statistics which allow tactical planning and
deployment of resources to fight crime. The Compstat Unit will make
available
critical information to the Chief of Police and the Deputy
Chief's,
compiling and analyzing introductory crime, all seven part 1 crimes
including homicide statistics,
and commanding officer profiles. The Compstat Unit will
create electronic pin maps of crime locations citywide; will analyze
geographical locations of shootings, homicides, and other major
crimes; will monitor pattern crimes; develop advanced computerized
crime tracking methods; and provides briefing/presentation materials
for the Chief of Police. In addition the Compstat Unit gauges the
crime-fighting effectiveness of field commands by monitoring: arrest
activity, responses to pattern crimes, bias crimes, and the
implementation of crime strategies.
If the police are to respond efficiently to crime and to criminal
events, police officers at all levels of the organization must have
accurate knowledge of when particular types of crimes are occurring,
how and where the crimes are being committed, and who the criminals
are. The likelihood of an effective police response to crime
increases proportionally as the accuracy of this criminal
intelligence increases.
Effective tactics are thoughtfully designed to bring about the
desired result of crime reduction, and these are developed after
studying and analyzing the information acquired from our accurate
and timely crime intelligence. In order to avoid merely displacing
crime and quality of life problems, and in order to bring about
permanent change, these tactics must be widespread, flexible, and
adaptable to the shifting crime trends we identify and monitor.
Once a tactical plan has been developed, a selection of personnel
and other necessary resources are promptly deployed. Although some
tactical plans might involve only patrol personnel, experience has
proven that the most effective plans require that personnel from
several units and enforcement functions work together as a team to
address the problem. A viable and comprehensive response to a crime
or quality of life problem generally demands that patrol personnel,
investigators and support personnel bring their expertise and
resources to bear in a coordinated effort.
As in any problem-solving venture, an ongoing process of meticulous
follow-up and assessment is absolutely essential to ensure that the
desired results are actually being achieved. This evaluation
component also permits us to assess the feasibility of particular
tactical responses and to incorporate the knowledge we gain in our
subsequent tactics development efforts. By knowing how well a
specific tactic worked on a particular crime or quality of life
problem, and by knowing which specific elements of the tactical
response worked most effectively, we are better able to construct
and implement effective responses for similar problems in the
future. The follow-up and assessment process also permits us to
re-deploy resources to meet newly identified challenges once a
problem has declined.
This concept will also be accomplished with the use of technology
and "intelligence-led policing," which relies on information
gathered from a wide array of sources - including partnerships - to
assist with pro-active law enforcement. The Department's
Goals are outlined to help maintain focus during the following
years. Key Strategies will be implemented on a continual basis to
ensure that the Goals are being met. The ability for the
Department's Goals to become reality relies on both internal and
external partnerships. The "partners" listed in this statement
include all aspects of the community: individual residents,
neighborhood groups, businesses, churches and faith-based groups,
schools, and other city departments.
Accurate and
Timely Intelligence
Accurate and timely intelligence, or information is absolutely
essential in effectively responding to any problem or crisis. Since
today's policing techniques nearly always consist of vast amounts of
information, it is necessary to provide a vehicle wherein essential
information can easily and effectively be shared with all levels of
the organization. Often times, detectives have information on
suspects or crime trends and patterns but the actual field patrol
officers who may be in contact with potential suspects have no idea
of what information detective personnel possess or need to clear a
case. Just as important, this principle also provides for an early
warning system to identify emerging crime trends and patterns. In
today's environment of ever shrinking resources, being able to apply
the necessary resources to an identified problem area is crucial in
successfully reducing crime. Historically, marked police vehicles
have randomly been deployed in hopes of deterring potential
criminals who see the white police vehicles on patrol. This
principle suggests that the intelligence/information be used as a
radar screen to direct police resources to the exact problem area.
Effective
Tactics
Traditional policing tactics have always dictated that most problems
may be solved at a superficial level. In other words, take care of
the suspect and don't worry about the social or environmental
situation that may be adding to or creating the problem. COMPSTAT
tactics encourage "thinking outside the box" and mandates that every
resource, both internal and external, are considered in responding
to a problem. COMPSTAT tactics also provide for a sense of urgency
in responding to problems. The old attitudes of public entities
responding at slow speed are no longer acceptable. Every case or
call for service is handled as the traditional "Big Case" and is
thoroughly and rapidly investigated in a systematic manner.
Police Director Jose Cordero and Chief Ronald Borgo's new
innovation technology on fighting crime in East Orange: "Virtual
Community Patrol"; Real Time Video Surveillance systems located
throughout the City "hot spot grids". Video can be viewed at the
H.Q. central monitoring station and/or in the police vehicles by
officers assigned to those “hot spot grids”. "The Gun Shot Detection
System"; is strategically located throughout the City and will
electronically notify police whenever a discharge of any firearm is
detected. In addition the video surveillance cameras in that sector
will automatically focus on the location.
Rapid
Deployment
For decades, police
departments have been driven by calls for service and respond their
limited resources in a reactive manner. With COMPSTAT, the police
department is now armed with vital intelligence regarding emerging
crime trends or patterns that allows for a strategic police
response. The strategic response can be in many forms, both
traditional uniformed or plainclothes officer response as well as
non-traditional decoys and sting operations.
Relentless Follow-up and Assessment
An essential element
in any crucial operation is the need to critically assess past
tactics and review what was successfully employed and what just
didn't work. One of the main differences between private enterprise
and the public sector is the bottom line of positive returns. The
public sector and police departments have rarely been evaluated on
their results. On the other hand, if a business implements an
unsuccessful strategy or provides an unacceptable level of customer
service, it isn't long before bankruptcy is filed. The bottom line
with COMPSTAT is results. Everything the police department does no
matter whether administrative, operational or investigative in
nature is evaluated by the results achieved. Static operations that
do not provide for successful results are immediately assessed for
their value and necessity to the overall operation of the
department.
The COMPSTAT Unit is under the direction of Chief Ronald
Borgo, Deputy Chief Kevin Morgan and Deputy Chief Paul Davis. All
the Chief's monitor
the COMPSTAT Unit and the daily crime trends to provide the statistical data and management
information needed for the weekly COMPSTAT information sharing
meetings chaired by Chief Ronald Borgo. The review of the data presented and the performance of the
command officers responsible for the existing crime issues assists
those same officers in future decision making when creating new
crime reduction strategies, allocating resources and deploying
personnel in their assigned areas. Proven and successful strategies
are identified and offered to other commands to assist them in
addressing similar or overlapping crime problems in other areas of
the City. The continuous COMPSTAT cycle of reviewing, strategizing,
taking action and being held accountable for results has streamlined
the Department's crime fighting abilities and increased it
effectiveness in responding quickly to crime problems as evidenced
by the current reduction in the overall occurrence of crime
throughout the City of East Orange.
TIPS HOTLINE: In an
effort to better protect and serve the community, the East Orange
Police Department has instituted two "Tips" telephone lines. All
calls will be kept confidential. For suspected criminal activity
citizens should call 973-266-5041. This hot line number is monitored
twenty-four hours a day. For quality of life issues such as loud
music, loitering, etc. call 973-266-5055.
Traditional policing tactics have always dictated that most problems
may be solved at a superficial level. In other words, take care of
the suspect and don't worry about the social or environmental
situation that may be adding to or creating the problem. COMPSTAT
tactics encourage "thinking outside the box" and mandates that every
resource, both internal and external, are considered in responding
to a problem. COMPSTAT tactics also provide for a sense of urgency
in responding to problems. The old attitudes of public entities
responding at slow speed are no longer acceptable. Every case or
call for service is handled as the traditional "Big Case" and is
thoroughly and rapidly investigated in a systematic manner.
